Tuesday, March 13, 2007

WHAT WOULD GOD SAY?

The Basilica of our Lady of Peace at Yamoussoukro.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Peace of Yamoussoukro, also known as Basilique de Notre Dame de la Paix de Yamoussoukro, is one of the largest Christian Churches in the world. Situated in Yamoussoukro, the administrative capital of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), the basilica was constructed between 1985 and 1989 for a cost of USD $300 million.

The lavishly built basilica sits in the middle of the African bush. The cost of the basilica doubled the national debt of Cote d'Ivoire.

The basilica is modeled after and bigger than Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, Rome Italy. The basilica boasts a dome measuring 149 m (489 ft) in height and can hold 18,000 worshipers inside and 300,000 on the esplanade. The former president of Côte d’Ivoire, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, is officially reported to have paid at his own expense the nearly $150 million cost of the church’s rapid construction (1986-1989).

Jambo Luihamu, Thanks for the comments on Saharan Vibe. I will be posting in the near future more information on Felix Houphouet-Boigny and his era as President of Ivory Coast. As for the church, it simply goes to show that sometimes its best to be rational and learn to live within ones means.

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Welcome! Karibuni! Isibingelelo! Kushe! Akwaba! to Saharan Vibe. The darkest thing about Africa has always been our ignorance of it. Saharan vibe will strive to be your source on all that is African bringing African news to a global audience. From Cairo to the Cape of Good Hope, Africa encompasses 53 nations, nearly a billion people and more than 800 distinct ethnic groups. From the arts, the culture, entertainment, politics join me on a safari as we explore a remarkable people and their distinctive way of life and in the celebration of African life.